392 CHPT 392: Caught in a Web of Sin.........

Det. Cyrene....

She was alive. She was standing right in front of him. So close, that he could smell the old remnants of her perfume-- and the stinch of decayed flesh wafting from her gums. So close, that he could feel how she tainted the natural world around him-- just like the Demons.

Because somehow-- someway, she had become a Demon. Then again, like most Demons, she had always thirsted for his hatred. Only now there were real consequences..... and even realer horrific implications.

He was in the palm of the hand that touched the desert. And it was infinitely worse than he could've imagined.

"You've been busy since SkyHaven haven't you, Clllaude?" Det. Cyrene asked as she ran one of her silver nails along his exposed chest.

A thin line of red followed her trail. Claude snarled, fighting the maddening urge to transform as he snapped at her.

Cyrene shivered. Her hair flashed back to a shadowy black color and her eyes went as red as rage.

When she regained her composure, she took her finger from his chest and watched the thin cut slowly heal over and disappear.

"I wonder how you would've tried to lie this off at the University... what would you tell your friends now? As a matter of fact, what did you tell her?" Cyrene said as she turned and pointed to Ursula who laid in her own cage near Frosty. She was still sound asleep. Snoring even. "I hear she's different... even less like a Silver Cursed than you heheh..."

Claude stayed silent.

"[Claude, I understand our predicament is rather dire. In a very literal sense. But, we need answers. I've never seen something like this. There are things moving about in the shadows that shouldn't exist, Claude.....]"

The idea of control was slowly growing harder. Even more so as Cyrene continued to poke and prod at him.

Even so....

"What happened to you?" He muttered.

Cyrene's eyes brightened horrifically in response to his words, "I was given a second chance...."

"But why would you take it? Why would you become this? You're no different from the Monsters you hunted... you're worse actually." Claude replied, ending his final words in a growl.

Cyrene shrugged, "I'm still me. Full Moon's make me stronger, but I still have my control. Even without it, I'm worlds stronger than I used to be, I can do things I never imagined I'd be able to do. I'm the perfect counter measure to these Monsters you speak of because it's your rage and pain that I can feed on. It's quite delicious...." As she said it, she licked the nail that was dyed with Claude's blood.

Black veins bulged in her throat and pulsed red, "You ask me why I would become this, isn't it obvious? I did this so I can keep hunting my favorite monster....."

Claude's spine shivered as she turned and walked back the way she came, toward the deeper shadows and corridors lined with Cyclops' and HellBred abominations. They shuffled and parted out of her way as she approached a larger corridor blocked off by a black gate smashed into the stone wall.

As she stood at the gate, seemingly waiting. Something moved on the other side. Something large and covered in fluttering rags like a tattered robe. It loomed over her from the other side of the gate.

Cyrene sighed before cracking her neck and transforming to her more demonic form. As she did so, she began fiddling with something he couldn't see.

Shlck!

The smell of foul blood filled the air. Claude's arm heated as his Malevolence Tether seemingly gained a fraction of sentience followed by a green fissure of naturally wild flames erupting from his chest as Gil raged within.

All the Demons in the area shivered and groaned. The HellBred Arachnoids and Hexenbiests screamed from atop their ichor black webs and the Monsters below ground caused the floor to rumble.

Claude froze, feeling like the sight was familiar as her blood spilled in front of the gate. Black as night with glowing red orbs like eyes peering from the depths of hell.

"Wait....."

Whatever was on the other side of the gate seemed satisfied-- as if the action was a key. And then the small gate door was open, and she was let in.

As she disappeared, she left a final word with Claude. All he could see where her fiery eyes and glowing blood as she spoke.

"Funny thing is Claude, more than a few of the things you've slain have risen from the grave.... hehehEHEHE.... they aren't happy to see you..."

Claude didn't understand her message. In fact, he barely heard it as he stared at the blood on the floor outside of the gate.

"[You recognize it don't you?]" Arne said, almost in a whisper.

"The blood.... Aeron's Journal. He saw the Midnight Wardens do the same thing before they freed the Silver Cursed...."

Arne was silent, his head seemingly spinning as much as Claude's was. What did the Midnight Wardens have to do with anything in the desert? How did Cyrene become the way she was? What was she doing out here? How was an Elven Murderer a leader of Demons? What was he doing at SkyHaven? How did he t--

"I have questions. I'm sure you do to, feral-man. But me first."

Claude jumped as the Elven teen suddenly spoke from beside him. He stood calmly as if he were always there, but only now did Claude smell the rot wafting from him-- like dead trees and grass. His presence was so intense it felt suffocating-- like a storm. Just as the Elven woman had said.

And just as he had presumed, he was no Demon.

An Elven boy-- a leader of Demons. A wandering Druid. A canyon full of Horrors. The Touch of the Desert. A key found in blood. And the Midnight Wardens. All connected by a string he couldn't follow, and a hand he couldn't break the hold of.

"The Armaments. Tell me where they are, Claude."